CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE: CAM BARKER

The Edmonton Oilers rolled the dice on a reclamation project with Jason Smith back in 1999 and came up winners. Is there a chance Cam Barker could provide the Oilers the same kind of payoff?

While Edmonton GM Steven Tambellini, who grabbed Barker off the scrap heap July 1 after he had his contract bought out by the Minnesota Wild, and fans won’t have an answer right away, the circumstances of Barker’s arrival are strikingly similar to Smith’s a dozen years earlier.

That doesn’t for a second mean that Barker and Smith stack up as comparable players in substance or style, but it struck me as I was doing research on Barker in preparation before an interview with him on Nation Radio how much he has in common with Smith.

Suffice to say, Tambellini and fans would be thrilled if Barker has the same tenure here as Smith, who ended up playing 542 regular season games with the Oilers, plus 45 more in the playoffs, and captaining the team before being dealt to Philadelphia in July 2007.

Different time? Sure. Different players? Yes. But anybody who suggests Barker is nothing more than a failed first-rounder and a longshot who is unlikely to amount to much, might be forgetting that Smith arrived here tagged much the same way.

THE RESUMES

— Both Smith and Barker were drafted in the first round out of the WHL. Smith was selected 18th overall from the Regina Pats in 1992.

Barker has even better pedigree. He was taken third overall, behind only Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, in 2004 from the Medicine Hat Tigers by the Chicago Blackhawks.

— Significant injuries have played a part in both their careers. Smith’s time with New Jersey got sidetracked in November of 1994 when a knee injury suffered in practice limited him to two games in 1994-95.

After being dealt to Minnesota by Chicago, Barker never did find his stride with the Wild and played just 52 games in 2010-11 after, among other things, hurting his back against the Oilers in a game Feb. 22.

— Both came cheap. Dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the Devils during the 1996-97 season, Smith didn’t fit into coach Pat Quinn’s plans and Edmonton GM Glen Sather got him for a fourth-round pick in 1999 and a second-rounder in 2000. Pretty cheap for a future captain.

Deemed expendable in the Windy City, Barker struggled so mightily in Minnesota the Wild bought him out and the Oilers inked him to a one-year deal for $2,25 million.

— Both arrived in Edmonton at the age of 25 as young veterans entering what should be the physical prime of their NHL careers after stints with two previous teams.

Smith had played in 326 regular season games with New Jersey and Toronto. Barker checks in for camp with the Oilers with 271 games in the books with Chicago and Minnesota.

NOW OR NEVER?

Smith was seen by many as nothing more than a depth defenseman, a guy who could play third-pairing minutes and provide a physical element. He wasn’t expected to add any offence. He didn’t.

But Smith became more than that in terms of impact on the team, carving out a niche with a level of punishing play few expected, playing through injuries with the pain threshold of a cadaver and by providing quiet but unquestionable leadership in the dressing room.

Barker? He hasn’t proven he can consistently play anything more than third-pairing minutes at even strength. But he does possess the tool Smith didn’t — the potential to produce offence and, the Oilers hope, to be a secondary option to Ryan Whitney on the power play. Barker had 40 points in just 68 games with Chicago in 2008-09.

Of course, Barker has produced next-to-nothing over the last two seasons with Chicago and Minnesota — just 6-20-26 in 122 games. Can Barker regain his confidence and contribute offensively? Fair question. Will Barker make a career-defining stand here in Edmonton the way Smith did?

I don’t know the answer to that last question, but with a one-year contract at a palatable salary, Barker looks to me to be a gamble worth taking. What’s the worst possible outcome? He gets cut loose after one year. Best-case? Hmm.

Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.

No fanbase appreciates an honest effort like this one. If Barker comes to play, he doesnt even have to put up points to earn respect. That goes for the whole team. When the Mulleted One has story telling time, hopefully he gets across what these fans want (because he knows every single one of us). If you put the effort forward, the crowd will back you (see: The Red Ox). If you put the effort forward, the bounces will come, the wins will come, the ladies will come and FINALLY, the CUP WILL COME!

Would be sweet if Barker covers his draft rank. He has got a lot to prove to himself. He’s got a young talented team to develop with. Ideal situation for all. If he doesn’t make it Oilers didn’t lose, just Barker. Here’s hoping for success.

Nice job today again, Rubin. Swell job of talking hockey as we float through the middle of the off-season horse latitudes (and a beautiful day to boot).
I liked what I heard from Barker and I am excited to see how this bet turns out. Having said that, I’ve felt pretty good about a few lottery tickets over the years as well.

I had mentioned on previous articles that Barker was the one Dman that I really wanted Tambi to take a run at. He obviously has enough raw talent, seeing as he was drafted so highly. He has had success at this level as well with Chicago. He’s no Duncan Keith or Brent Seabrook, but on the Oilers roster he is for sure top 4. Hopefully he can find some confidence and run with it. If nothing else he has a bomb from the blueline which is an asset on the PP.

Actually, that’s not possible. Because of Barker’s age, he’s actually a restricted free agent at the end of this year. Which means that if he plays horribly, the Oilers can simply not qualify him, but if he plays well, we retain his rights.

Basically, the Oilers hold all the cards with this player. This is probably the right time for them to take a high-risk move with a player like this; after this season, they’re going to have to make a more serious effort to improve defense and goal.

His draft pedigree makes him a very easy gamble. Motivation goes a long way to success. This a guy who’ll be coming to training camp motivated tot he nth degree. I believe we’ll see the very best that Cam Barker has to offer us this season. His age is perfect for this team. He’ll fit nicely I think. Let him settle in and get used to a new sysytem and Ithink by the 30 game mark we’ll see the guy Chicago drafted 7 years ago. The Smith analogy is a good one. I would put Craig Muni in that catergory also. Another ex-Oiler who came over from the Leafs and succeeded here as a player. Was a 2cd rounder 25 overall.

I have to disagree about Gator not putting up points. Ill never forget his diving backhander deke off the post against detroit, game 6 i think. He also had a money OT goal against DET, come to think of it, he was a Det killa!!

DantheMan said: “…the fact this is a rebuilding year and you have nothing to lose.” Really!

Steve Tambelinni and others may share this opinion, a defeatist approach to contending. There are others, including myself, that believe the Oilers have some very valuable trading chips that with an adroit management could fill the necessary holes on the roster to challenge for a playoff spot. The addition of Smyth and Bellanger will add some mentoring and NHL experience to the forwards. Unfortunately, the organization has left the D and goaltending suspect and its expections are very low — looking for another lottery pick in the entry draft.

Jason played the final games of the 2001-02 season with a fractured leg. Never said a word.

He played an entire playoff series with rotator cuff tears in both shoulders. Never said a word.

His surgically repaired knee was always sore despite a brace. Smith had the ugliest feet in hockey, gnarled and swollen and covered in welts all the time. He had his feet in ice buckets every day during the season during his time in Edmonton. Some days he could barely walk, but he always found a way to skate. Never said a word.

The only players I have covered first-hand as a reporter with a pain threshold even close to Smith were Kevin Lowe and Igor Ulanov.